After changes to the schedule and the host country, the 2021 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is set to finally kick things off this weekend.
The tournament was first scheduled to take place this past June and July, but organizers instead opted to hold it earlier, in January and February of 2021, because of “unfavourable climatic conditions” in the summer months. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to change their plans again, which has now delayed the tournament a whole year to January and February 2022.
Cameroon was initially supposed to host AFCON in 2019, but were stripped of that honour in November 2018 due to delays in preparations for the tournament. Egypt ended up hosting the 2019, while Cameroon was allowed to try again in 2021. The knock-on effect was that the Ivory Coast — originally selected to host in 2021 — would have their chance to host the tournament delayed until 2023, and Guinea’s hosting duties were also pushed back to 2025.
Cameroon takes on Burkina Faso in the tournament’s opening match, scheduled for Sunday, January 9, at Olembe Stadium in the capital city of Yaoundé. The final is scheduled to take place in the same stadium on Sunday, February 6.
Here are the 24 countries that qualified for the tournament:
| GROUP A | GROUP B | GROUP C | GROUP D | GROUP E | GROUP F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇲 Cameroon** | 🇸🇳 Senegal | 🇲🇦 Morocco | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 🇩🇿 Algeria* | 🇹🇳 Tunisia |
| 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 🇬🇭 Ghana | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast | 🇲🇱 Mali |
| 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | 🇬🇳 Guinea | 🇬🇦 Gabon | 🇸🇩 Sudan | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 🇬🇲 Gambia |
| 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 🇲🇼 Malawi | 🇰🇲 Comoros | 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 🇬🇶 Equitorial Guinea | 🇲🇷 Mauritania |
** = Host country
The Africa Cup of Nations introduced a templated logo system in 2010, when the tournament was hosted in Angola. Since then, the host nation and year in the red circle has been updated for each subsequent tournament, along with the position of the star marking the host country. The presenting sponsor changed from Orange to Total in 2017.
The AFCON logo mirrors the Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) logo, but with a red roundel, a black shield and white lettering.
Manufacturer Umbro has created the “Toghu” model as the official match ball for AFCON 2021. The name of the ball and the patterns on it are derived from popular traditional outfits worn in Cameroon. These outfits feature fine multicolored embroidery on a base of black velvet fabric.
NOTE: This preview includes all kit information available as of January 7, 2022. We will endeavour to reflect changes and/or correct inaccuracies as the AFCON 2021 tournament progresses, but information from some countries can be difficult to obtain.
- Nicknames: The Greens; the Fennec Foxes; the Desert Warriors
- Manufacturer: adidas
- AFCON Appearances: 1968, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021
- Best Result: Champions (1990, 2019)
- Home: White base with a tonal pattern and green accents
- Away: Pretty much a reverse of the home kit — green base with the same tonal pattern and white accents
- Nicknames: The Stallions
- Manufacturer: Tovio
- AFCON Appearances: 1978 (as Upper Volta), 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2021
- Best Result: Second Place (2013)
- Home: Green shirt with tonal pattern and vertical stripe referencing national flag; red and green collar; white sleeve cuffs
- Away: White shirt with tonal horse pattern and vertical stripe referencing national flag; green and red collar; red sleeve cuffs
- Nicknames: The Indomitable Lions
- Manufacturer: Le Coq Sportif
- AFCON Appearances: 1970, 1972, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021
- Best Result: Champions (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017)
- Home: Green shirt with tonal diagonal stripes; red and yellow stripes over left shoulder form a representation of the Cameroon flag; lion crest on left chest and Fédération Camerounaise de Football logo on right chest
- Away: Yellow shirt with tonal diagonal stripes; green and red stripes over left shoulder form a representation of the Cameroon flag; lion crest on left chest and Fédération Camerounaise de Football logo on right chest
- Nicknames: The Blue Sharks; the Creoles
- Manufacturer: Tempo
- AFCON Appearances: 2013, 2015, 2021
- Best Result: Lost in quarterfinals (2013)
- Home: Blue shirt with tonal stripes and pattern, and a tonal shark on the bottom half; gold collar and sleeve cuffs
- Away: White shirt with tonal stripes and pattern, and a tonal shark on the bottom half; gold collar and sleeve cuffs
- Third: Red shirt with tonal geometric pattern, and a tonal shark on the bottom half; gold collar and sleeve cuffs
- Nicknames: Les Coelacantes (the Coelacanths)
- Manufacturer: Macron
- AFCON Appearances: 2021
- Best Result: n/a
- Home: Light green jersey with dark green shoulder stripes and sleeves; tonal pattern on side panels; tonal print of crescent and four stars from national flag in bottom left corner; dark green and gold collar; yellow, white, red and blue stripes from national flag on sleeve cuffs and back hem
- Away: White jersey with tonal pattern on shoulder stripes, sleeves and side panels; tonal print of crescent and four stars from national flag in bottom left corner; dark green and gold collar; yellow, white, red and blue stripes from national flag on sleeve cuffs and back hem
- Third: Dark blue jersey with light blue shoulder stripes and sleeves; tonal pattern on side panels; tonal print of crescent and four stars from national flag in bottom left corner; dark blue and gold collar; yellow, white, red and blue stripes from national flag on sleeve cuffs and back hem
- Nicknames: The Pharoahs
- Manufacturer: Puma
- AFCON Appearances: 1957, 1959 (as United Arab Republic), 1962, 1963, 1970, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2017, 2019, 2021
- Best Result: Champions (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010)
- Home: Red shirt with a tonal pattern all over; black stripes running down the shoulders, from the collar to just past the shoulder seam; red and black collar
- Away: White shirt with a tonal pattern all over; white V-neck collar; red sleeve cuffs
- Nicknames: Nzalang Nacional (National Thunder)
- Manufacturer: Errea
- AFCON Appearances: 2012, 2015, 2021
- Best Result: Fourth place (2015)
- Home: Red shirt with black geometric line pattern; red crew neck collar, white sleeve cuffs
- Away: White shirt with abstract red striping pattern; red crew neck collar and sleeve cuffs
- Third: Blue shirt with vertical white pinstripes and horizontal tonal blue pinstripes; solid blue sleeves; red crew neck collar; green sleeve cuffs
- Nicknames: Walia ibex
- Manufacturer: Umbro
- AFCON Appearances: 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1976, 1982, 2013, 2021
- Best Result: Champions (1962)
- Home: Green shirt with tonal triangle pattern and diagonal brush stroke stripes; green crew neck collar; green, red and yellow stripes from national flag on sleeve cuffs; national flag on front right hem
- Away: Gold shirt with tonal triangle pattern; gold crew neck collar; green, red and yellow stripes from national flag on sleeve cuffs; national flag on front right hem
- Third: Red shirt with tonal geometric pattern; red crew neck collar; green, red and yellow stripes from national flag on sleeve cuffs; national flag on front right hem
- NOTE: It’s unclear if the actual match jerseys will feature “ETHIOPIA” text across the chest, but it’s unlikely given FIFA kit rules.
- Nicknames: The Panthers; the Brazilians
- Manufacturer: Kappa
- AFCON Appearances: 1994, 1996, 2000, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2021
- Best Result: Lost in quarterfinals (1996, 2012)
- Home: Yellow shirt with tonal pattern on body forming the silhouette of a panther; tonal pattern also on sleeves; green collar and sleeve cuffs
- Away: White shirt with tonal pattern all over; yellow underarm panels; green and yellow striping on collar and sleeve cuffs
- Third: Green shirt with diagonal yellow patterned stripe across front and blue underneath, forming a representation of the national flag; blue and yellow collar; green, yellow and blue stripes on sleeve cuffs
- Nicknames: The Scorpions
- Manufacturer: Saller
- AFCON Appearances: 2021
- Best Result: n/a
- Home: Red shirt with tonal chevrons down the front; white underarm panels; patterned stripes running from collar to shoulder seam; red V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs
- Away: White shirt with tonal chevrons down the front; red underarm panels; patterned stripes running from collar to shoulder seam; white V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs
- Nicknames: Black Stars
- Manufacturer: Puma
- AFCON Appearances: 1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021
- Best Result: Champions (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982)
- Home: White shirt with tonal pattern on front and full-contrast pattern on shoulders and sleeves; red back half of collar; black star from national flag mid-chest
- Away: Yellow shirt with black and green pattern on front; solid black shoulders and sleeves; red back half of collar; black star from national flag mid-chest
- Nicknames: Syli Nationale (National Elephants)
- Manufacturer: Masita
- AFCON Appearances: 1970, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1994, 1998, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021
- Best Result: Second Place (1976)
- Home: Red shirt with tonal chevrons, polka dots and elephants printed on the front; green side panels with yellow diamond pattern; yellow sleeve cuffs; green, yellow and red crew neck collar
- Away: Green shirt with tonal chevrons, polka dots and elephants printed on the front; red side panels with yellow and green diamond pattern; red sleeve cuffs; green, yellow and red crew neck collar
- Third: White shirt with tonal chevrons, polka dots and elephants printed on the front; red side panels with yellow and green diamond pattern; red sleeve cuffs; green, yellow and red crew neck collar
- Nicknames: Djurtus
- Manufacturer: Guisport
- AFCON Appearances: 2017, 2019, 2021
- Best Result: Eliminated in group stage (2017, 2019)
- Home: Red shirt with vertical stripes containing a pattern of red, green and yellow diamonds; red V-neck collar
- Away: Green shirt with wavy checkerboard pattern containing red, green and yellow diamonds; green polo collar
- Third: Yellow shirt with red pinstripes and vertical gradient stripes containing a pattern of red, green and yellow diamonds; yellow collar with a red front insert
- Fourth: White shirt with horizontal stripes containing a pattern of red, green and yellow diamonds; black collar with a white front insert
- Nicknames: The Elephants
- Manufacturer: Puma
- AFCON Appearances: 1965, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021
- Best Result: Champions (1992, 2015)
- Home: Orange shirt with vertical tonal static stripes on the front and sleeves; green stripes running down the shoulders, from the collar to just past the shoulder seam; green standup collar with orange placket
- Away: White shirt with vertical black static stripes on the front and sleeves; solid white panels on shoulders; white crew neck collar
- Nicknames: The Flames
- Manufacturer: Moto
- AFCON Appearances: 1984, 2010, 2021
- Best Result: Eliminated in group stage (1984, 2010)
- Home: Red shirt with tonal traditional Malawian textile pattern; green V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs
- Away: Green shirt with tonal traditional Malawian textile pattern; red V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs
- Third: Black shirt with tonal traditional Malawian textile pattern; red V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs
- Nicknames: The Eagles
- Manufacturer: Airness
- AFCON Appearances: 1972, 1994, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021
- Best Result: Second Place (1972)
- Home: Green shirt with yellow eagle mid-chest; eagle’s wings morph into stripes – some are solid green, while others containing tonal patterns are green, yellow and red to represent national flag; green tonal pattern on shoulders and chest
- Away: White shirt with green eagle mid-chest; eagle’s wings morph into stripes – some are white, while others containing tonal patterns are green, yellow and red to represent national flag; green tonal pattern on shoulders and chest
- Nicknames: Al-Murabitun (Lions of Chinguetti)
- Manufacturer: AB Sport
- AFCON Appearances: 2019, 2021
- Best Result: Eliminated in group stage (2019)
- Home: Green shirt with brush stroke tonal pattern all over; yellow brush stroke stripe down front of jersey; red side stripes; red crew neck collar
- Away: White shirt with brush stroke tonal pattern all over; green and red brush stroke stripes down front of jersey; red side stripe and sleeve cuff on left side of jersey; green side stripe and sleeve cuff on right side; red crew neck collar
- Third: Black shirt with swirling tonal patter on front; gold graphic pattern in bottom left corner; gold side stripes, sleeve cuffs and V-neck collar
- Nicknames: The Atlas Lions
- Manufacturer: Puma
- AFCON Appearances: 1972, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2021
- Best Result: Champions (1976)
- Home: Solid red shirt; stripes with tonal pattern running down the shoulders, from the collar to just past the shoulder seam; green standup collar with red placket
- Away: Solid white shirt; red stripes with tonal pattern running down the shoulders, from the collar to just past the shoulder seam; red standup collar with white placket
- Nicknames: Super Eagles
- Manufacturer: Nike
- AFCON Appearances: 1963, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2019, 2021
- Best Result: Champions (1980, 1994, 2013)
- Home: Mainly white shirt with tonal triangle patterns on the front; triangular patterns in various shades of green cover sides of shirt and sleeves; black crew neck collar; Nigerian Football Federation crest and Nike logo placed mid-chest
- Away: Solid dark green shirt; light green V-neck collar, sleeve cuffs and side stripes contain white geometric patterns
- Nicknames: The Lions of Teranga
- Manufacturer: Puma
- AFCON Appearances: 1965, 1968, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021
- Best Result: Second Place (2002, 2019)
- Home: White shirt divided into squares that contain various geometric patterns in pale pastel colours; solid white stripes running down the shoulders, from the collar to just past the shoulder seam; white collar; green sleeve cuffs
- Away: Dark green shirt divided into squares that contain various tonal geometric patterns; neon green stripes running down the shoulders, from the collar to just past the shoulder seam; neon green back half of collar
- Nicknames: Leone Stars
- Manufacturer: Umbro
- AFCON Appearances: 1994, 1996, 2021
- Best Result: Eliminated in group stage (1994, 1996)
- Home: Royal blue shirt with dark blue, light blue, green and white diamond pattern all over the front; solid royal blue crew neck collar and sleeve cuffs
- Away: White shirt with tonal pattern; green-white-blue vertical stripe down the front of the shirt represents national flag; white collar and sleeve cuffs
- Third: Predominantly green shirt with abstract royal blue tonal geometric pattern overlaid; green crew neck collar and sleeve cuffs
- Nicknames: Falcons of Jediane
- Manufacturer: adidas
- AFCON Appearances: 1957, 1959, 1963, 1970, 1972, 1976, 2008, 2012, 2021
- Best Result: Champions (1970)
- Home: Solid red shirt with white piping running from collar to back of sleeve; white V-neck collar
- Away: White shirt with angled red yoke cutting under adidas logo on right side and over national team crest on left side; red shoulders than run about halfway down each sleeve; white V-neck collar and adidas shoulder stripes
- Nicknames: Eagles of Carthage
- Manufacturer: Kappa
- AFCON Appearances: 1962, 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021
- Best Result: Champions (2004)
- Home: Red shirt with tonal Arabic calligraphy pattern across the front; solid red sleeves; red and white collar; white sleeve cuffs
- Away: White shirt with tonal Arabic calligraphy pattern across the front; solid white sleeves; white and red collar; red sleeve cuffs
- Nicknames: The Warriors
- Manufacturer: Umbro
- AFCON Appearances: 2004, 2006, 2017, 2019, 2021
- Best Result: Eliminated in group stage (2004, 2006, 2017, 2019)
- Home: Yellow shirt with green, red and black diagonal brush stroke stripes arranged in the same pattern as in the national flag; solid yellow sleeves, cuffs and collar
- Away: Green shirt with light green crosshatch pattern overlaid on black, white and yellow diagonal brush stroke stripes; solid green sleeves, cuffs and collar
- Third: White shirt with tonal brush stroke chevron pattern; solid white sleeves, cuffs and collar
Photos courtesy Footy Headlines, FootballFashion.org, @SFA1936 / Twitter, Football Association of Malawi / Facebook, Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF)